Kerstin Bilgmann

PhD Student

Marine Mammal Research Group and Molecular Ecology Lab
Graduate School of the Environment
Macquarie University
Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia
Phone: 61 (2) 9850 7982; Fax: 61 (2) 9850 7972
E-mail: kbilgman@gse.mq.edu.au

Career History

I have been involved in marine mammal research since 1997. From 1997 till today I have undertaken and/or assisted in research on molecular ecology of bottlenose and common dolphins; behaviour, ecology and genetics of humpback whales; and behaviour and acoustics of bottlenose dolphins. In 2001 I completed my M.S. in Germany working on the thermoregulation of harbour seals, harp seals, grey seals and Baikal seals (supervised by PD. Dr. Guido Dehnhardt, University of Bochum and Prof. Dambach, University of Cologne)

In July 2003 I started my PhD at Macquarie University (MU) in Sydney, working on the “Population Genetic Structure of Bottlenose and Common Dolphins in South Australian Waters”, supervised by Dr. Robert Harcourt (MU), Dr. Luciana Möller (MU), Dr. Luciano Beheregaray (MU), and Dr. Catherine Kemper (South Australian Museum)

Research Interests

I am interested in conservation and evolutionary biology, especially in the aspects of cetacean population genetics and phylogeny. I am currently using modern molecular approaches to investigate the fine scale population structure of bottlenose and common dolphins in South Australia. I am further interested in interactions of marine mammals with aquaculture and fishing industries.

Research Project (click here for details)

- Population Genetic Structure of Bottlenose and Common Dolphins in South Australian Waters

Publications

- Bilgmann K, Moller LM, Harcourt R, Beheregaray LB (2007) Genetic differentiation in bottlenose dolphins from South Australia: an association with local oceanography and coastal geography. Marine Ecology Progress Series 341, 265-276.

- Bilgmann K, Griffiths OJ, Allen SJ, Möller LM (2007) A biopsy pole system for bow-riding dolphins: sampling success, behavioral responses, and test for sampling bias. Marine Mammal Science 23, 218–225.

- Mauck, B., Bilgmann, K., Jones, D.D., Eysel, U. and Dehnhardt, G. (2003). Thermal windows on the trunk of hauled out seals: hot spots for thermoregulatory evaporation? Journal of Experimental Biology 206 (10) 1727-1738.